Howdy Friends,

I hope you’ve gotten the chance to read through my special report Conversion Crisis 2007.

I never expected the blockbuster response I would get from the report when I wrote it. I just wanted to share a bit about the reasons conversion rates are falling all over the Internet… and by knowing the enemy at the gates, you can prepare and come out smelling like a rose.

Now the interesting thing is the fact that my email box is being deluged with comments about the report.

I’ll share a couple:

—–

“Thank you Mike. I have so much to learn and am so glad people like you are out there to help. I figure anyone connected to Mark Joyner has to be good people. He has such high integrity and value. I look forward to knowing you and your work (once I have a chance to digest it all)!

Cheers, Dolly”

Dolly M. Garlo, RN, JD
ICF Professional Certified Coach
RSP Certified Retirement & Life Options Coach www.AllThrive.com

—–

“Thanks, this is refreshing after all the hypey crap I read about marketing.

Janet

Namaste. I honor the light within you.

Janet Beatrice”
www.marketwithspirit.com
www.marketwithspirit.wordpress.com
www.everyhappiness.com

—–

“Hi Mike,
Thank you for the wealth of information. It is excellent material and certainly most helpful. I haven’t had such valuable information, since I received my last newsletter from Gary Halbert – may he rest in peace.

I’m sure I will make good use of this. I appreciate you, Mike. You’re the greatest!
All the best,
Frank”

—–

“Hi Mike,

You certainly model the new ethics of providing excellent value and over delivering with more value.

Thank you very much and Bright Blessings to you and yours,

Michel”

—–

Wow, that’s only a fraction of the hundreds of emails I’ve gotten since releasing the report!

Now I want you to know that this is only the tip of the iceberg. I’m committed to showing each and every person who thirsts for conversion mastery.

Stay tuned.

Cheers,

Mike

PS I’ll be guest blogging over at Michel Fortins blog later this week, keep your eyes peeled.

Howdy Friends!

Not too long ago I was talking to my friend David Garfinkel. He was doing a call with his Copywriting Mastery Club on creating a “Repeat Customer Profit Bonanza!” He asked me to contribute because he knows I get tons of repeat business.

Now, I never thought about why I had so many repeat clients before. It was instinctual.

So I racked my brain and found out why! (Took me a few hours… but it was worth it.)

Would you like me to share?

Okay, since you asked here’s what I came up with.

It’s a formula… in fact, it’s the great formula for Mark Joyner’s Great Formula! (Sorry Mark, didn’t mean to steal your thunder…)

The first part of the formula is RESULTS.

With results, your customers gain trust and respect. After all, they are paying you do do something, right? That means if your product or service truly delivers the goods, you’re setting up an expectation it will happen again.

Results are important, but they are only a tiny part of the formula…

Next, you need a dose of good old fashioned COMMUNICATION.

When you communicate, you build your relationships, find new needs and show new solutions that your customers don’t know you even offer! It works online or offline, keep the communication flowing… and make sure you aren’t always pitching in every communication.

A phone call out of the blue, sending an interesting article relevant to thier business, even a happy birthday. It all adds up to building the realationship and bonding.

Then comes VALUE.

When you provide extra value, you become a center of influence, you become the go-to guy (or gal!)

I go out of my way to help my clients and customers value outside of what they see as my core competence.

For example, my copywriting clients end up getting thousands of dollars of marketing advice… for free. Just share your knowledge and add more value and you’ll see how different you are compared to the competition.

Most people these days only want to do the minimum they can get away with. Step outside that paradigm, and watch what happens.

Finally, CUSTOMER CARE.

I hate the phrase customer service. I want my clients to be CARED FOR. Big difference in my book. Early in my career, this brought up it’s own problems (like needy, clingy clients.) But after I learned better how to choose my clients, it works like gangbusters. When you combine it with value… that’s a winning combination.

And when you consider how lousy customer service is online these days (few marketers seem to “get it”) an exemplary customer care can be a HUGE differentiator.

For example, I work with Rick Raddatz, HE gets it. I was flown by Rick to Brekinridge Colorado for a 2 day brainstorming session this winter. We focused on customer service a good amount of the time.

But Rick didn’t just pay lip service to the concept. When I wrote his Instant Teleseminar copy, we added Ricks personal cell phone number in the copy.

Why?

We were showing his committment to customer care, and if customers didn’t get a problem solved, they could call him directly… and he would make sure they did!

How is that for a high level of service?

Perhaps you’re thinking “That’s good for Rick, but I don’t want to answer all those calls.” Fair enough. What may surprise you is that Rick got very few calls regarding customer serice issues. But he did end up getting some good feedback on his product, and several good ideas.

Bottom line – Not only did customers have Rick’s cell phone number as a “security blanket” that made them feel cared for, but Rick saw other benefits too. Talk about a win-win!

When your highest cost is acquiring a NEW customer, taking care of EXISTING customers is the cheapest and most effective way to build your business… PERIOD!

Put the formula to the task and watch your business explode.

Cheers,

Mike

Howdy friends!

Some of my friends in marketing tell me “The thing I can always count
on when we talk, you always speak advertising.”

My wife would think that was a hoot.

(At home I speak in tabloid headlines…)

Here’s what I mean.

Let’s take you on an imaginary journey into a conversation between my
wife (Holly) and me.

Mike: “Hey, I need you to promise me to get a new handle for the
downstairs toilet or all ‘H-E Double-Hockey Sticks’ will break loose”

Holly: {Sighs on the inside} “OK, I promise.”

Short conversation eh?

Okay, I’m in the office all day cranking out world-class copy (my
story) and wondering ‘I hope she remembered’

Well, maybe not.

But upon arriving home late ( I needed to talk with a client in New
Zealand), my wife pronounces the promise had been fulfilled. The new
toilet handle has been acquired.

So, like a dutiful husband (doesn’t happen very often) off I go to do
the ‘dirty work.’

(Okay… here’s where the story has some meaning… sorry it took so long)

I open the packaging (without looking, of course) and notice how the
new assembly is metal, not plastic. Instinctually, I know that I’ll
not have to replace it for a long time. (A benefit… right?)

So I remove the chain from the assembly (did you know you have chain
in your toilet?) and I proceed to install the darn thing.

But something doesn’t look quite right.

And I soon discover we had the wrong handle configuration!

*GASP*

How about that! Did you know there are toilet handles that mount on
the SIDE? Well, I certainly didn’t know. Our blessed throne had a
FRONT MOUNT.

Not my fault we got the wrong one, right?

Or was I the perpetrator of the plumbing perplexity…

Alright, I have to take the blame. (My wife will love me for this!)

After all, how would she know? The only thing she was guilty of is being BUSY! (Just like our overwhelmed prospects in marketing, right?)

Shocking, don’t you think?

But it’s my duty as a copywriter and take responsiblity human being to tell the truth.

My Waterloo?

Well, it could be easy to blame my wife, and assert my intellectual
dominance. But my wife is a superstar. Soccer coach, Boy Scout
Treasurer, elementary school volunteer, weekday cook, taxi, maid and
on top of it… helps run a multi-million dollar family business a few
days a week.

Hmmmm.

Yep, totally my fault.

Why?

My humiliating deficiency in communicating like the million dollar
copywriter I am!

Yep, and I take full responsibility. (Okay… here comes that
advertising lesson)

You see, I failed the specificity test. I got an ‘F’ in ad-speak.

Had I been specific, I would have told her to get the FRONT MOUNT HANDLE.

Of course I didn’t know that, not exactly Mr. Fix-it here…

Oops… I just incriminated myself with another failing, lack of research.

In fact, it seems my weak knowledge of toilet handle configurations
LEAD to the lack of a specific enough advertisement of the needed
handle!

Next lesson?

If it can happen at home, to a top-gun copywriter, it can happen in a
salesletter, postcard, opt-in page or display ad.

So, next time I vow to apply the same level of care as I do when crafting advertising.

First do the research, then get specific and get the CORRECT toilet handle when
the new FRONT MOUNT one wears out in 19 years, 3 months, one week and 5
days!

Cheers,

Million Dollar Mike

Have you ever seen a marketer whose raw personality was so magnetic you couldn’t ignore it?

If the answer is “no,” check out this site.

Take a close look at the power of persona in action.

Love him or hate him, The Rich Jerk has brilliantly capitalized on the power of persona.

Here’s proof, first check out his earnings proof on his page. Yep, it’s real (I know him). Next, consider the fact that copy-cats are rampant like the Adsense Jerk, The Rich Jerk Apprentice, the Poor Jerk, ect. Of course you know, imitation is the most sincere form of flattery.

Here’s what I find fascinating about the Rich Jerk persona… the guy doesn’t pander to his audience. His in-your-face style is not kind, nor gentle, yet he attracts people in droves.

Most people believe they have to appeal to a “wide audience.” That way, they get maximum acceptance. After all you would NEVER want to tick off a potential customer!

Right?

NO… ABSOLUTELY WRONG!

When you mix part outrageous marketing with a hefty dose of proof, it’s a delicious recipe for some butt-kicking conversion!

But, this style of marketing isn’t for everybody. In fact, most of the marketing herd would never take such a risk. That’s fine, because when brilliant marketing meets the power of persona, only risk takers will reap the rewards.

And there’s so much “me too” marketing out there, it makes stuff like this really stand out.

Why?

It’s the power of contrast.

Which one stands out the most?

What is more memorable?

Who would you rather prove wrong… a pompous jerk, or the milque toast everyman?

Do you see my point yet?

I thought so.

Now I’m not pointing out the Rich Jerk site so you immediately go rip off his persona. (If you rip him off, be warned, he has successfully prosecuted a dozen hacks who tried to do the same…) Let me see if another example will spark your imagination…

Remember that weirdo on late night TV infomercials who wears the suit with all of the question marks all over it?

His name is Matthew Lesko, the question mark man!

Irritating isn’t he? All that wacky, hyper persona can really drive people nuts, right?

Well, he’s still on TV, what does that tell you? If you know anything at all about marketing, you’ll know that the fact the infomercial is still running, it MUST be making money.

Ever see some crazy dude on TV selling used cars and discounting them because he just smashed the windshield with a sledgehammer?

How about marketing gurus who go out of their way to be unapproachable?

What about the “beautiful people” you see with snobby attitudes toward “regular joes?”

It’s all the power of persona. It can be used for good… or for evil… but it works!

Cheers,

Million Dollar Mike

One of my favorite lunch spots is a place called Franklins Hoagies. It’s just up the street from me here in Coeur d’Alene Idaho. They make Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches in a homey, diner-like atmosphere. The food is always hot… but the conversation is even hotter!

I know everytime I walk in the place and belly up to the lunch counter, it’s gonna be entertaining. And the focus of the entertainment is the owner, Larry.

You see, Larry has one of those big personalities, and either people love him… or put up with him because the food is so good. Let’s put it this way, Larry knows how to polarize the crowd.

He always has an opinion, even if you don’t care about it — or agree with it. And if you disagree, even better. Need to know why the cost of gas is so high? Ask Larry. Who to vote for? Larry will tell you. He’ll hop up on his soapbox and give you a pitch on any subject.

And whether you agree with him or not, you’ll still part friends.

The place is packed every day. The last time I was there, I asked a few folks why they came in for lunch. Besides the food, the most popular answer was: they enjoy Larry’s bigger than life personality. Even a peek at his sign in the window and it reveals a lot about Larry. It says…

“Come on in and eat something before we both starve!”

Gotta love a guy like Larry, because his lesson will hone your copywriting and marketing chops. (As proof, I’ll submit that Franklins Hoagies has been in business for 32 years.)

OK, back to the lesson…

How many advertisements have you seen today? 100? 200? More? Do you see much personality in them?

I’ll bet the answer is “no.”

But I’m sure the ads with the most are easily remembered than some corporate schtick. If you want to make your advertising more memorable, inject a little personality. Don’t be afraid to polarize your audience. In fact, I’d prefer to cull the herd early on and make a stronger statement from the get-go because the readers who remain will be more receptive to my message.

I have an old saying…

“If you try to be everything to everybody, you’ll end up being nothing to nobody!”

Okay, maybe I swiped it. But it has it’s own personality, don’t you think? The point is, add some personality to your marketing. Make it memorable. You’re going to make some friends and do some business.

When you develop a friendly relationship, you may be surprised because…

People love to buy from friends.

Most people live quiet, dull lives. You advertising can bring them some excitement! A relationship will be built. And when it is, you’ve built a fanatical customer base.

Take that to the bank and draw interest on it.

Who The Heck Is Mike Morgan?

By Sterling Valentine

They call him Million Dollar Mike.

That’s because he’s generated over $200,000,000 in online sales. Few people know he started the first online investment bond service in 1996. Hardly anyone knows he’s been interviewed by Dow Jones News, Fortune Magazine and BusinessWeek. They don’t know about the “little guy” in Idaho who beat old-guard Fortune 500 investment firms to market.

He hardly talks about top copywriters “sneaking “him in the back door for outsourced copy. They rarely made changes to his ads, yet Mike didn’t get the credit, and never complained.

Mike has learned from the best of the best in the copywriting world… and it shows. Still, people don’t know what this guy is capable of, or how far he will go. So I’m telling you to hold on to your hat and watch him explode.

Internet Insiders know his clients bring in millions from the ads he creates. He saved my bacon on the JV Formula launch and in 2 days my conversion rate soared 656%. His headline was perhaps the most swiped headline of 2006.

Not only that, he helped me meet an important goal and in the long run, quite literally changed my life!

His copy helped produce a $1,500,000 in sales in an incredible 48 hours for a Ewen Chia launch. But what most people don’t know is they would have sold out in a day if their server hadn’t melted down seconds after opening the doors.

Although he’s an “A List” online copywriter, the thing that impresses me most about Million Dollar Mike is everything else he brings to the table. It’s called marketing savvy.

In fact, he was an integral part of re-brainstorming the business of Rick Raddatz this winter. I know several top internet marketers who keep the phone number of Million Dollar Mike on the top of their speed-dials.

My point is this. Obviously he’s very talented, so on that alone, you should heed his advice. But he’s one heck of a teacher too. If you’re a smart marketer, who wants to dramatically boost conversions, Million Dollar Mike is your man. He sure is mine.

Sterling Valentine is an Internet Marketer and frequent seminar speaker who lives in Mount Laurel, New Jersey